Designer A-Z

Diane von Furstenberg

Autumn/Winter 2011

By Avril Mair

Diane Von Furstenberg is astonishing. At the age of 65, she's been there, seen it and done it - then designed the collection to prove it.

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With the help of Yvan Mispelaere, now head designer at the house, she produced her absolute best for AW11 in a show titled 'American Legends' a title which could, just as easily, have been directed back at her. Watched by a celebrity-packed front row - Fergie, Barbara Walters, Tina Brown, Fran Leibowitz, Patti Hansen - DVF sent out (as the title would suggest) a series of classic pieces reworked: first with a sort of gaucho inspiration - black hats tied under the chin, fringed leather knee-high boots, black leather jackets - then later with a degree of self-reference: the wrap-dress, floor-length and slashed to the thigh, reimagined in navy blue sequins. There were unexpected touches, however: oversize Iris Apfel sunglasses, a tropical print on black jersey jumpsuits, brilliant blue coats and ponchos (note: this colour is a trend). If that sounds incoherent, it absolutely wasn't: this lived up to its title and then some.